The value of the flood control service of tropical forests: A case study for Trinidad

To date there have been only few case studies that specify how hydrological processes regulated by forests convey into benefits for society. The objective of this paper is to analyse the relation between forest cover and the reduction of flood risks on Trinidad. Our hypothesis is that the relation between forest cover and flood control is non-linear, in other words that deforestation of a watershed will increase flood risks in a non-linear way. This implies that the per hectare value of the hydrological service is determined in part by the remaining forest cover of the catchment. We find that this varies strongly between watersheds, between 16 and 268 US $ per hectare per year. Our results demonstrate a non-linear relationship between catchment's forest cover and the generation of the flood control service, and indicate that even small levels of deforestation can lead to a significant increase in flood risks in Trinidad.